Cambridge Community Marae Waharoa opening and the sun breaks through the fog and mist.
Tamahere residents have been given a different take on why they should support the retention of Waikato District Council’s Māori wards.
Tilly Turner
Ngāruawāhia based Tilly Turner will be returned unopposed to the council’s Tai Runga Māori ward. A three-way battle is in progress for the Tai Raro Takiwaa Maaori Ward seat vacated in June by Paaniora Matatahi-Poutapu.
In Waipā sitting councillor Dale Maree Morgan is challenged by Yvonne Waho, in Hamilton there are six contenders for the Kirikiriroa Maaori Ward and in Ōtorohanga five are campaigning for the Rangiatea Māori Ward.
Referenda around the country will determine the fate of Māori wards – introduced in 2022 by Waikato district – and where a majority of voters don’t want them, they will disappear at the 2028 election.
Turner spoke at last week’s candidates meeting in Tamahere where Waikato district and regional councillors addressed a full room of about 50.
She sought to explain the role of marae – and struck a chord in comparing them to village halls.
“We have weddings and tangi – like your village halls. It’s a resource you have not tapped into. There were 40 sustainable marae hubs in the district,” she said.
But she also underlined a disconnect between Māori and the local body politics.
“We lost a million acres across three generations… Māori are not confident as councils administered the land we lost.
“I’d love our marae to start connecting and sit down in this community with you.”
The primary marae in the Tamahere-Gordonton area is Hukanui in Gordonton.
Turner – who aside from sitting on the Waikato District Council is also a member of the Raglan, Ngāruawāhia and Taupiri community boards – discussed the Koroneihana where Māori queen Te Arikinui Ngā wai hono te po spoke publicly for the first time since the death of her father Kingi Tuheitia.
The annual commemoration of the coronation of the Māori monarch drew thousands of visitors to Turangawaewae over five days this month.
“It is all driven by volunteers – because we love our culture,” Turner said.
She invited her audience to reflect on how much value that passion and willingness to work could bring to the wider community.
Earlier this year Turner revealed she had a succession plan in place and was intending not to seek re-election – but decided not to leave a seat to someone knowing it could be scrapped in three years.
Dianne Raumati calls guests to move forward to the marae’s new waharoa. Through the entranceway over a new concrete path is Te Puawaitanga wharenui.
